Method to fill heat pipe arrays

Abstract

A fill tool system that fills, seals, and inspects a heat pipe array, which includes one or more heat pipes with heat pipe working fluid.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for filling a plurality of heat pipes, the apparatus comprising:
 a working fluid assembly configured to fill the plurality of heat pipes sequentially or simultaneously with a known quantity of working fluid; 
 a pair of rotatable flanges in a stacked arrangement having a radius of R1 and R2, respectively, rotating in an angle θ 1  and θ 2 , respectively, wherein a first one of the pair of rotatable flanges allow the working fluid assembly to move with the second one of rotatable flanges to position a working fluid tube over the plurality of heat pipes; and 
 a main chamber assembly configured to isolate the working fluid from atmosphere surrounding the apparatus, thereby providing a controlled atmosphere, the controlled atmosphere being vacuum or inert gas. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pair of isolating vacuum-rated gate valves separating the main chamber assembly from the working fluid assembly, wherein 
 a first one of the pair of isolating vacuum-rated gate valves is configured to isolate the main chamber assembly, and 
 a second one of the pair of isolating vacuum-rated gate valves is configured to isolate the working fluid assembly. 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a core block comprising the plurality of heat pipes resting below the first one of the pair of rotatable flanges, wherein 
 a theta-theta position of the pair of rotatable flanges are defined in Cartesian coordinates (x, y) as follows
     x=R   1  cos θ 1   +R   2  cos θ 2  
 
     y=R   1  sin θ 1   +R   2  sin θ 2  
 
 
 
       wherein subscript 1 represents a motion of the first one of the pair of rotatable flanges and subscript 2 represents a motion of the second one of the pair of rotatable flanges. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a lifting column configured to raise the working fluid assembly contained in flex bellows from a level of a core block above gate valves, allowing for vacuum isolation of the working fluid assembly from the atmosphere surrounding the apparatus. 
 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the lifting column is further configured to lower the working fluid assembly contained in the flex bellows from a level of vacuum isolation valves to the level of the core block, allowing the working fluid to be dispensed into the plurality of heat pipes. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a metering manifold configured to dispense the known quantity of working fluid into the plurality of heat pipes, wherein 
 the metering manifold comprises a cylinder, a plurality of valves, and a ball, 
 the cylinder contains the known quantity of working fluid and the ball, and 
 the plurality of valves comprises a first set of valves and a second set of valves, 
 the first set of valves, when opened, moves the known quantity of working fluid forcing the ball across the cylinder, causing a fixed quantity of working fluid ahead of the ball through one of the valves in the first set of valves, allowing the fixed quantity of working fluid to pass out from the metering manifold, and 
 the second set of valves, when opened, moves the known quantity of working fluid forcing the ball across in an opposite direction in the cylinder, causing the fixed quantity of working fluid ahead of the ball through one of the valves in the second set of valves, allowing the fixed quantity of working fluid to pass out from the metering manifold. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a core block comprising the plurality of heat pipes with a plug sheet guide placed on top of the plurality of heat pipes, wherein 
 the plug sheet guide is configured to guide a plug sheet, allowing for a linear motion to insert a plurality of plugs into the plurality of heat pipes, and 
 the plug sheet is a network of a plurality of tapered plugs connected to each other by webbing. 
 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cartridge of plugs contained in a tube, wherein 
 each plug in the cartridge of plugs comprises an interlocking mechanism preventing the plug from being stuck inside the tube. 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a spring loaded cam deployment mechanism comprising a mounting block and pin, a spring, and a cam allowing the plug to be dispensed from the tube onto a face of the tube. 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a laser welder located outside of a chamber configured to weld a plurality of plugs to the plurality of heat pipes to seal each of the plurality of heat pipes after each of the plurality of plugs are installed, wherein 
 the laser welder is configured to generate a laser beam that passes through a laser transmission window and through an atmosphere of the chamber to fuse each of the plurality of plugs to the plurality of heat pipes. 
 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the chamber is filled with helium gas at a predefined pressure after the plurality of heat pipes are filled. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a helium leak detector configured to detect a leak from any void or imperfections of the laser weld. 
 
     
     
       13. An apparatus for filling a plurality of heat pipes, the apparatus comprising:
 a metering manifold configured to dispense a known quantity of working fluid into the plurality of heat pipes depending on a translational movement of a ball inside of the metering manifold and an opening of a plurality of valves; 
 a working fluid assembly configured to fill the plurality of heat pipes sequentially or simultaneously with the known quantity of working fluid; and 
 a main chamber assembly configured to isolate the working fluid from atmosphere surrounding the apparatus, thereby providing a controlled atmosphere, the controlled atmosphere being vacuum or inert gas. 
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a laser weld window configured to be movable about a single degree of freedom by a first one of a plurality of rotatable flanges. 
 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the laser weld window is further configured to be movable about a second degree of freedom by a second one of a plurality of rotatable flanges. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the laser weld window connects to an upper end of a cross, the cross connecting to a gas knife supply port on a first side and a gas knife vacuum port on a second side. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a gas knife comprising the gas knife supply port and the gas knife vacuum port, wherein 
 the gas knife supply port and the gas knife vacuum port are configured to facilitate movement of gas across the laser weld window preventing volatile metal from accumulating on the laser weld window during weld closure. 
 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of heat pipes are applied to nuclear reactors. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the working fluid comprises one or more alkali metals.